Tiger roars back to the top

Tiger Woods hits a shot during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at the Trump Doral Golf Resort ' + char(38) +' Spa in Doral, Florida. AFP photo

Tiger Woods reclaimed the world number one spot on Monday for the first time since his career was derailed by a sex scandal and a string of injuries.

Woods' victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational saw the 37-year-old replace Rory McIlroy atop the rankings in the latest milestone of his comeback from a spectacular fall from personal and professional grace.

"I play well here," said Woods, who secured his eighth victory at Bay Hill with after a closing round of two-under 70. "That is about as simple as it gets. It is a by-product of hard work and patience."

It took an extra day, but Woods out-dueled fellow American Rickie Fowler down the stretch, winning the $6.2 million event by two strokes.

Woods, who pocketed $1.08 million for Monday's win, has won 14 majors in his career and had previously spent a record 623 weeks on top of the world.Tiger looks like Tiger again

But he has not led the rankings for nearly three years, after injuries and an infamous scandal saw him stumble.

Tiger Woods with Arnold Palmer during the trophy presentation after Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando. AP

Woods fell to his lowest rank on November 11, 2011 when he dropped to 58th in the world.

"I was swinging it well, I made a few putts, and trying to put a little pressure on him, let him know I was there," Fowler said.

Woods, who has won six times in his last 20 tournaments, attributes his recent success to learning how to juggle his family life with golf. Woods tumbles out of top-50

"It was a lot easier to work on the game and make all those changes when I was younger," he said Monday. "Having family responsibilities changes things. Trying to find the time to do it tests your time-management skills.

"I had to work differently. It was going to have to be done in short bursts. But I wouldn't trade it. My two little ones are the most important thing in my life."

Woods has now won 51 times in 55 tries when holding the lead entering the final round and is five wins shy of matching Sam Snead's all-time record on the PGA Tour.

He and Snead are also the only players to win the same tournament eight times with Snead doing it at the Greater Greensboro Open.